This was the moment housing crisis campaigners tried to storm a branch of Nat West bank in the centre of Bristol - to highlight what they say are the ‘discriminatory’ way it does business.

Protesters from campaign group Acorn leafleted customers and passers-by outside the branch in Broadmead for an hour on Saturday morning, but were prevented from getting into the branch itself by one security guard barring their way.

The police were called, but the bank’s manager refused to talk to the protesters, who had lined up outside as part of a national demonstration.

That clause forbids landlords who take out a mortgage to buy a home to rent out from renting to anyone claiming benefits.

And Acorn protesters said that because most people with disabilities or health issues will be eligible for and claiming some kind of benefit - it means NatWest are discriminating against the disabled by effectively banning them from renting homes bought by a buy-to-let NatWest investor.

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In practice, Acorn said this means buy-to-let landlords with NatWest mortgages are forced to say ‘no benefit claimants’ - which exacerbates the housing crisis and homelessness for those on low incomes.

Acorn said such a clause forces those people who are claiming benefits, including those in-work benefits paid to people working in low income jobs.

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Last time the protestors targeted a bank in Bristol for this practice, they burst into the Broadmead branch of TSB and set up a disco and a game of Twister on the floor in front of the bank counter.

The protest worked - TSB revised that particular clause.

This time, NatWest knew they were coming, and a security guard posted at the entrance closed one half of the double doors, and clung on as the protestors tried to get in.

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For a short time, the bank's doors were locked, before the police arrived and Acorn protestors on the outside allowed regular customers to go in and out of the bank.

According to research by housing charities, the 1.5 million people living in the private rented sector claiming housing benefit face significant discrimination in access to housing with one in three renters on housing benefit prevented from renting a home due to “no DSS” discrimination.

(Image: Michael Lloyd Photography)

The CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland group, which owns the bank, justified the clause in a letter to MPs last week.

Ross McEwan wrote: “In line with a number of other lenders … our mortgage policy for landlords with smaller property portfolios … includes a restriction on letting to tenants in receipt of housing benefit.

(Image: Michael Lloyd Photography)

“This reflects evidence that rental arrears are much greater in this segment of the market and we are satisfied that this restriction does not contravene equality legislation.”

Before the protests this week, NatWest said it was ‘reviewing’ its buy-to-let mortgage policies.